Automatic controls for washing, drycleaning, bleaching, dyeing and other machines



Filed Sept. lO

J. BOLD 2,715,413 UTOMATIC CONTROLS FOR WASHING, DRY--CLEANINGlBLEACHING, DYEING AND OTHER MACHINES 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet l Attorney Aug.16, 1955 J. BOLD 2,715,413

AUTOMATIC CONTROLS FOR WASHING, DRY-CLEANNG, BLEACHING, DYEING AND OTHERMACHINES Filed Sept. l0, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor John .Bo ZJ BAttorney United States Patent O 2,715,413 AUroNATrc coNrRors nonWASHING, DRY- CLEANNG, BLEACHING, DYEING AND OTHER lViACHINES Thisinvention relates to controls for washing, bleaching, dyeing and thelike machines, said controls being provided for controlling the supplyof hot and cold water to the machines.

Previous to the said invention an automatic control for Washing,bleaching, dyeing and like machines was proposed and comprised a mastermember rotated at a uniform speed in combination with a control memberoscillated by means of a oat, normally closed control Valves whichcontrol the supply of a luid under pressure which operates through themedium of pistons or the equivalent, main valves through which theliquid or liquids are supplied to the machine and cams provided on thecontrol member and adapted positively to open the normally closedcontrol valves and thereby supply fluid under pressure to the pistons orthe equivalent only when the said cams are operated.

An automatic control for washing, bleaching, dyeing and the likemachines has also been proposed consisting of a rising and fallingmember provided with projections which co-operate with pilot valvesadapted to produce both opening and closing of liquid supply valves.

The main object of the said invention is to provide a novel constructionof automatic control which is simple to produce and operate and iscompact and also is neat in appearance. v

According to the said invention an automatic control for a washing,bleaching, dyeing or the like machine has a spindle one part of which isprovided with a screw of elongated pitch on which a float having meansto engage the said screw is mounted, the float being slidable, but notrotatable in a liquid measuring container and therefore rotating thespindle as it rises and falls with the level of the liquid in the saidcontainer.

The spindle is preferably mounted in a ball thrust bearing at its lowerend and in a ball or roller journal bearing higher up so as to presentas low a resistance as possible to rotation by the float.

The float is preferably held against rotation in the container byengagement of a part on the iloat with a Stop surface provided in thecontainer and extending along the same in a straight line.

The spindle is held against axial movement and serves by its rotation toactuate cam projections provided to operate valves controlling amotivating iluid supplied to devices which serve to open and closevalves controlling the liquid to be delivered in measured quantities inthe sarne or a different state.

The spindle preferably operates cam projections provided on identicalrings having identical external cam projections and assembled on a coreand held in the assembled position by securing means.

To retain the rings in their initial relative angular positions, therings and securing means may be serrated or otherwise roughened at theiropposed surfaces so as to render slipping on one another more diflicultor improbable.

The core may be hollow to tit on and rotate with a Mice slide which ismounted on the spindle to slide thereon but rotate therewith.

The position of the said slide on the spindle may be controlled by aseries of teeth provided on a rotatable member and forming part of anescapement device which allows displacement of the said slide successivedistances each equal to the spacing of the teeth.

The escapement device preferably has teeth which are vertically andperipherally oiset on the rotatable member and co-operate with teeth onthe slide to control the descent of the slide, and also has a slideplate acted on by a spring which slides it in one direction, a lluidpower driven piston being provided to slide the slide plate and therebyrotate the rotatable member stepwise when the piston is driven.

The Spindle may be provided with a disc or the like which rotatestherewith outside the container and has a scale from which the amount ofliquid can be read in conjunction with a stationary member such as apointer provided on the container.

Alternatively a finger may be provided on the spindle and a stationaryscale on the container, the finger being arranged to travel over or infront of the scale.

A constructional example of the invention is illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically by the accompanying drawings wherein- Figure l is afragmentary front view in section of parts of an automatic control for awashing machine.

Figures 2 to 6 are detached plan views in section taken on linescorresponding respectively with lines 2 2, 3 3, 4 4, 5-5 and 6-6respectively.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary front view in section of parts of the saidcontrol drawn to a larger scale.

Figure 8 is a plan view in section of a part of Figure 7 taken on a linecorresponding with line 8-8 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a detached front elevation illustrating anotherconstruction.

Figure 10 is a plan View thereof.

Referring to the drawings, in the construction shown therein, there is acylindrical measuring container 1 for connection to a larger container(not shown), such as the washing liquor and clothes container of anindustrial washing machine so that by its open communication therewiththe level of liquid is the same in both containers and therefore thelevel of liquid in the measuring container 1 is a measure of the liquidin the larger container. The measuring container 1 has a pipe 2 wherebyit is connected to the larger container so as to be in opencommunication therewith. A cold water inlet valve (not shown) isprovided to control the inlet of cold water to the larger container. Ahot water inlet valve (not shown) is provided to control inlet of hotwater to the larger container. An outlet valve (not shown) is providedto control a liquid outlet from the larger container. Each of the inletvalves is operated by a piston which is contained in a cylinder adaptedto be fed at its two ends alternately with a fluid under pressure, suchas compressed air. When the iluid is fed to one end, the piston isdriven to open the valve and when uid is fed to the other end the pistonis driven in the reverse direction to close the valve. The feed of uidto the respective cylinder to open the cold water valve is controlled bya uid control valve 3. The feed of fluid to the same cylinder to closethe cold water valve is controlled by a uid control valve 6. The feed offluid to the respective cylinder to open the hot Water valve iscontrolled by a uid control valve 5. The feed of iluid to the last namedcylinder to close the hot water valve is controlled by a fluid controlvalve 4.

The floor of the measuring container 1 has a footstep ball or rollerbearing 7 provided centrally on its floor 8. The lower extremity of thevertical spindle 9 is mounted in the bearing 7. A ball or roller journalbearing 10 is provided in the container 1 at or aboveV its upper end andthe spindle 9 is journalled therein.

Between the bearings 7 and 10, thespindle 9 is of square cross sectionand twisted to form a screw 11 having one complete turn. The screw 11 isaccommodated by a central aperture 12 extending vertically through anannular float 13 adapted to rise and fall in the container 1 as liquidis introduced therento or is allowed to escape therefrom through thepipe 2. VThe oat 13 is provided with four more anti-friction rollers 14,which are adapted toV roll on the four faces ofthe sc rew v11. The oat13 has a projection 15 with rollers 16 which run on parallel guidesurfaces provided on a guide rail 17 which extends vertically from nearthe bottom to near the top of the measuring container 1 and isstationary, whereby the float 13 is prevented from rotating but is freeto move up and down in the container 1. When liquid is introduced intothe container 1, thefloat 13 is caused thereby to rise. Because thefloat 13 cannot rotate, and is connected to the screw-like part 11 ofthe spindle 9, the spindle 9` is rotated by the rising float 13. Whenliquid escapes from the Vcontainer 1, the oat 13 sinks and rotates thespindle 9 in the reverse direction.

These rotations of the spindle 9 by the liquid entering and leaving thecontainer 1 are utilised to control the cold water inlet valve and thehot water inlet valve through the medium of the valves 3, 4, 5 and 6Vand thereby determine the amount and sequence of iilling of thecontainer 1 with ycold water and hot water.

The'spindle 9 projects from the upper end of the container 1 for adistance above the said end. The projecting part has an elongated key 18Yparallel with the axis of the spindle 9. A hollow cylindrical slide 19slides with its upper end on the spindle 9 and key 18 and carries aremovable sleeve 20 having a peg 21 removably engaging a hole in theslide 19. A cylinder 22 is mounted on the spindle 9 and is able torotate K independently thereof. The cylinder 272 is supported by itslower end riding on a drum 23 which rotates with the spindle 9, and hasteeth 24 of ratchet-tooth like form arranged in a helical row on theperiphery of the cylinder 22 and forming a series of ledges, for exampleeight, whereby the control can serve for eight dilerent processes. Thecylinder 22 is adapted to be rotated stepwise one-eighth of a rotationeach time by means of a row of eight ratchet teeth 25 on it near itslower extremity, and a spring loaded ratchet pawl 26 arranged on alateral slide 27 carried by the drum 23. A stationary cylinder 28containing a spring loaded piston 28' having a rod 29 acting on theslide 27 to operate it and therefore the cylinder 22. A tension spring30 returns theslide to its initial position. The piston inthe cylinderis operated by Huid under pressure controlled by a valve (not shown)similar to the valve 3, the valve being opened by a cam 53 provided onthe drum-23 and acting through a lever 54 which is similar to the lever39 so that the cylinder is rotated progressively one-eighth Vof arotation between successive processes.

The slide 19 is supported successively by the teeth 24, commencing withthe uppermost tooth 24 as shown in Figure l. Its support depends lonteeth 31Y'rof ratchet tooth-like form provided on a ring 32 rotatableinthe slide 19 and held yieldingly in a predetermined angular positionby a compression spring 33 disposed in a cavity in the ring and seatedon a lug 34 provided on the slide 19 and projecting into the saidcavity. The 'support persists so long as one of the teeth 24 has a tooth31 resting on it. When the cylinder is rotated the said tooth 24 ismoved from under the said tooth V31 and leaves the slide 19 free todescend Vb y gravity. The slide 19 however also has teeth 35 which areangularly oifset relative toV 4 the teeth 31 and one of the teethV 35impinges on the said tooth 24 before the cylinder has completed its fullone-eighth revolution, thereby momentarily stopping the descent of theslide 19 until the said tooth 24 has moved clear of the obstructingtooth 35 and the base is then free to descend until arrested byirnpingement of the said tooth 31 with the next lower tooth 24. Descentof the slide 19 in eight stages is therefore obtained. When the slideVis pulled up after the last stage of descent, with the teeth V24 out ofregister with the teeth 35, the ring, being free to yield angularlyagainst the action of the spring 33 enables a tooth 31 encountering atooth 24 in the upward movement, to slide angularly or laterally out ofthe line of the obstructing tooth 24, and therefore makes it possible toraise the slide without rotating it. One tooth 31 and eight teeth 35would suffice for the controlled escapement and descent of the slide,but it is preferred to provide a plurality Vof distributed teeth sothat, by riding on the spindle 9, they steady Vthe lower end of theslide 19 against lateral displacement.

The valves 3, 4, 5 and 6 are spring closed and are opened through themedium of levers 36, 37, 38 and 39 lpivotally mounted at 40, 41, 42 and43 respectively and having rollers 44, 45, 46 and 47 respectively.

'Ihe sleeve 24) carried by the slide 19 formssa core on which aplurality of rings 48 can be slid in any order and in any angularposition. The lower end of the sleeve 20 has an annular shoulder 49 bywhich the lowermost ring 48 is supported. The upper end of the sleeve 20is externally screw-threaded and an internally screw-threaded ringscrews on to the same to clamp the pack of rings 48 between it and theshoulder 49 at the lower end of the sleeve 20. The shoulder 49 and bothflat facesV of each ring 48 are toothed or otherwise roughened so thatwhen clamped together the said shoulder and faces Ycooperate strongly toresist angular displacement of the lowermost ring 4S on the saidshoulder and angular displacement of any of the rings 4'8 relative toone another. The internally screw-threaded ring 50 is not roughened andthat ring 48 of the pack which is nearest the same may have that flatface which is opposed to the screw-threaded ring 50 non-roughened so asnot to interfere with the easy tightening of the screwthreaded ring 50on the sleev 20.

Each of the rings 48 of the pack has a peripheral projection 51. Angularsetting of the rings 48 as they are threaded on to the sleeve 20 andbefore the screw-threaded ring 50 is applied or tightened enables theprojections 51 to be angularly offset from each other. The superposingof the rings 48 on one another produces a vertical otfsetting of theprojections. lTo enable the quantities of hot and cold water for thesaid eight processes `to be controlled, thirty-two rings 48 arerequired.

In operation, assuming the slide 19 to be in its uppermost position asshown, the outlet valve of the washing machine and the cold water inletvalve and hot water in'- let valve to be shut, and the iloat 13 to beraised above the shown position by liquid in the container 1, the saidoutlet valve is opened by hand or by a time-controlled device and thelarger container Vand therefore the container 1 emptied thereby. Theconsequently falling float 13 rotates the spindle 9 to cause one or tworing projections 51 to displace the roller 44 or 46 or both and therebyoperate the lever 36 or 38 or both to open the'iiuid control valve 3 or5 or both and thereby cause the cold water valve or hot water valve orboth to be opened. The de# sired liquid thereupon ows into the largercontainer and some of the liquid ows from thence into and accumulates inthe container 1 and thereby raises the oat 13 which rotates the spindle9 and slide 19 so as to cause the fluid control valve 4 or 6 or bothfluid control valves 4 and 6 to be opened by the lever 37 or 39 or bothlevers 37 and 39 and the roller 45' or 47 or both rollers 45 and 47. Theopening of the said uid control valve or valves causes the open coldwater valve or open hot water valve or both aada to be closed and thesupply of further liquid to the larger container and therefore thecontainer 1 to be shut olf. As many of the lowermost series of fourrings 48 as are required are set with their projections 51 in thecorrect angular position for causing the closing of the water valve orvalves when the desired quantity of cold or hot water or both for thefirst of the eight processes has arrived in the containers. The nexthigher series of four rings 48 are set to give the desired quantities ofcold and hot water for the second process and so forth. If operation ofany particular projection S is not required its ring 43 is set in anangular position where rotational movement of the slide 19 will notcause the particular projection to reach the respective roller.

When the liquid is discharged after completion of the first process, bythe opening of the outlet valve, the float sinks and again rotates theslide 19 in the reverse direction, but before any of the projections 51can displace any of the rollers, the piston 29 has been caused tooperate the slide 27 and thereby rotate the cylinder 22 suliiciently torelease the slide 19 from its support by the uppermost tooth 24 andallow it to fall onto the next lower tooth 2:?, thereby lowering therings 4S an exact amount which brings the next higher series of fourrings 4S level with the rollers and thereby renders the projections 5l.on the said rings capable of displacing the said rollers if and whenrequired and as determined by the angular setting of the said rings, Theoperations repeat themselves until the dierent liquid supplies for alleight processes have been controlled, by which time the slide 19 will bein its lowermost position in which the uppermost series of rings 4S arelevel with the rollers. The slide 19 is then pulled upwards back intoits uppermost position ready for a repetition of the eight processes. Aremovable cover 52 is provided above the container 1.

The sleeve 29 can be readily removed for resetting of the angularpositions of the rings 4S thereon or for replacement by a similar sleeveon which similar rings are already present and set angularly to giveother quantities of liquid charges for eight processes.

The drum 23 may be furnished with a scale calibrated to show thequantities of liquid corresponding with different angular positions ofthe spindle and therefore the drum. A stationary pointer or mark isprovided on the container 1 or cover S2 to facilitate the reading od ofthe scale. Alternatively the pointer may be provided on the spindle 9and the scale be provided on the container 1 or cover 52.

In another construction, instead of a pilot valve for controlling theclosure of each water valve, each water valve is closed by the action ofa spring which is charged on the opening of the valve and operates assoon as the compressed air ceases to keep the water valve open againstthe action of the spring, only a pilot valve for opening the respectivewater valve being provided. The pilot valve which controls the openingfor example of the cold water valve is actuated through a push rod 55,Figures 9 and l0, and the pilot valve which controls the opening of thehot water valve is actuated through the push rod 56. Each push rod isactuated by a peripheral cam surface 57, 58 respectively provided on adisc 59, 60 respectively. The discs are separately rotatable onstationary studs 61, 62 respectively. Two of the hereinbefore describedrings are employed to control each pilot valve. The two ringscontrolling the cold water pilot valve are marked 63 and 64respectively. The two rings controlling the hot water pilot valve aremarked 65 and 66 respectively. The ring 63 has a projection 67 adaptedto act on a projection 68 on the disc 59 so as to rotate the disc inclockwise direction and thereby operate the push Cil by turn on the hotwater valve. wnen the water ows into the measuring container 1 andraises the oat 13, the rings are rotated in the reverse direction, andprojections 71 and 72 on the rings 64 and 65 respectively, by acting onthe projections 68 and 70, rotate the discs 59 and 60 in the reversedirection thereby leaving the push rods 55 and 56 to return to theirinitial position and allow the pilot valves to close and permit theclosure of the cold water valve and hot water valve by the action of thesaid springs thereon.

To provide for the case where the projections 67 and 69 do not coincideangularly and therefore one of the discs 59 and 60 is rotated to agreater extent than the other thus moving the respective projection ofthe projections 68 and 70 out of the path of the correspondingprojections 71 and 72, the return of that disc is ensured by theprovision on each of the discs of a shorter projection 73 against whichthe projection 67 or 69 impinges when the rings perform their reversemotion and which by the consequent displacement thereof rotates the discsufficiently to bring the projection 68 or 7d sufficiently into the pathof the projection 71 or 72 as to enable the projection 71 or 72 to acton the projection 63 or 70.

This case occurs where the volume of the hot or cold water is requiredto be greater than the volume of the other water in the same charge, thedifference in volume being obtained by opening one valve before theother but closing them at the same time.

I claim:

l. In an automatic control for washing, dry-cleaning, bleaching, dyeingand the like machines, the improvement comprising a treatmentreceptacle, a liquid measuring container for connection to the treatmentreceptacle, a vertical spindle rotatable in the container and projectingabove the same, means which prevent longitudinal displacement of thespindle, a screw of elongated pitch provided on the spindle in thecontainer, and a float which is slidable vertically but non-rotatable inthe container and engages the said screw for rotating the spindle bymeans of the screw as the oat rises and falls with the level of liquidin the container.

2. In an automatic control for washing, dry-cleaning, bleaching, dyeingand the like machines which have liquid inlet valves opened by amotivating uid, the improvement comprising a treatment receptacle, aliquid measuring container for connection to the treatment receptacle, aball thrust bearing at the lower end of the container, a ball journalbearing higher up the container, a vertical spindle rotatably mounted inthe two bearings for low resistance to rotation and prevention oflongitudinal motion, a screw of elongated pitch provided on the spindlebetween the bearings, a float in the container, guide means whichrestrain the oat from rotating whilst allowing the said oat to slide,means on the :float engaging the screw of the spindle for causing theoat to rotate the spindle through the screw when the oat rises and fallsas liquid is allowed to ow into and out of the container.

3. In an automatic control for washing, dry-cleaning, bleaching, dyeingand the like machines, the improvement comprising a treatmentreceptacle, a liquid measuring container for connection to the treatmentreceptacle, a guide surface provided in the container and extendingvertically in the same, a oat in the container prevented from rotationby the guide surface but free to slide up and down in the container, avertical spindle rotatably mounted in the container, an elongated screwthread on the spindle, and means on the oat engaging the screw threadfor causing the spindle to be rotated by the iloat through the screwwhen the oat rises and falls as the level of liquid rises and falls inthe container.

4. In an automatic control for Washing, dry-cleaning, bleaching, dyeingand the like machines having a treatment receptacle, the improvementcomprising a measuring'container, a spindle rotatably butnon-axially-slidably core for transmitting the drive of the slide membert0 the core and translating it into a stepwise rotary motion and therebybringing one of the oifset teeth successively out of the core holdingposition and another thereof into a position for holding the core at alower eleva- 5 tion.

10 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

